Bridging Africa’s Infrastructure Execution Gap
Africa has a portfolio of around 130 transnational infrastructure projects across the energy, transport, digital, and water sectors, yet only 6% are currently under construction.
The challenge lies not in planning but in execution. A report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) identifies three main blockages:
- poor coordination across a complex stakeholder landscape
- funding difficulties
- limited execution capability
The gap costs Africa an estimated $500 billion in GDP, 74 million jobs, and one million lives each year, putting 2040 development targets at risk.
Coordination issues among institutions such as the African Union Commission, AUDA-NEPAD, and Regional Economic Communities contribute to delays, particularly in cross-border projects.
The continent faces a $60 billion annual infrastructure funding gap and a shortage of about five million skilled professionals.
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Author’s summary: Africa faces infrastructure execution gap.